In lieu of International Woman’s Day this week, I would like bring your attention to several women pushing the boundaries of business, media, culture and adventure.

You might know them as the top female travel bloggers; but they are doing so much more than jumping out of airplanes.

It struck me when browsing through a post showcasing a new “normal” Barbie doll how much time and money the media spends telling us that our fat, our acne, our scars, our physical “imperfections” are still beautiful. Hello, you’re still focusing on what’s on the outside, and not who’s getting out there.

I guess I’ve never worried that I’m too short (5 ‘1 1/2 + heels), or too brunette, or too whatever to be beautiful. This is mostly because I’ve assumed that my bubbly personality, strengths in leadership, and a heart bigger than my butt is what makes me attractive. I don’t feel intimidated by women who look Photoshopped because I’m too busy being inspired by women who climb mountains, start businesses, and are billboard examples of how to treat others.

I feel pretty when I think about who I am and what I’ve done, not what I look like.

I am not sure what makes you feel “pretty,” but when I look at these women, I think pretty awesome.

Happy day, every day, to International Women.

Cheers to my favorite alpha females, and strictly as an opinion from a fellow solo female traveler, the top female travel bloggers:

When You Thought Adventure Was Too Expensive.Top Female Travel Bloggers for Budget Travel:

When people say that travel is too expensive, I direct them to legends Anna and Sabrina, who have both travelled full-time with an income less than $10,000 a year before building their blogs into a budget travelers’ paradise.

1. Anna Kate, The Legendary Adventures of Anna

For five years, Anna has been a full-time solo adventure traveler. Being alone didn’t stop her from hiking Trolltunga in Norway, bungee jumping in Ecuador, and taking twelve hours of buses across the Dominican Republic.

2. Sabrina Iovino, Just One Way Ticket

From Malaysia’s islands to volunteering in wildlife orphanages in Africa and uncovering the less glamorous side of the Philippines. Sabrina’s blunt, whole-hearted adventures show us that not only can you see the world on a budget, you can make it a better place too.

Best Solo Female Travel Bloggers

I’m not the only one who has given up a cubicle career post-graduation to work while on the go. The following ladies have managed to match business and passion, facing real-life fears greater than bungee jumping (although we’ve all done that too ;))

4. Kristin Addis, Be My Travel Muse

The UCSB alumni traded banking for solo hikes and hitchhiking throughout Asia (seriously). A digital nomad, Kristin continues to be a full-time adventure seeker across borders and is your go to female travel blogger.

5. Kiersten Rich, The Blonde Abroad

Goodbye corporate life, hello food, fashion, and festivals around the world. This bikini #BossBabe is more of a lady in leadership than meets the eye. She’s a keynote speaker, brand consultant, and global advocate for female adventure. Kiersten kicked the cubicle, and even features a series on her blog of women who have challenged traditional careers for a professional life of adventure.

6. Brooke Saward, World of Wanderlust

At twenty-two, Brooke left her home in Tasmania, Australia to conquer the globe. She quickly became an internet sensation and personal favorite of my own. Brooke sells e-books, created an app, and blogs transcontinentally, 100% full time.

Best Female Travel Bloggers for Couples Travel

Being a female traveler doesn’t mean that you have to venture on your own. The following women are partners in the adventure world, proving that fairy tale endings are for thrill seekers too.

7. Deb, The Planet D

Deb and Dave started their transcontinental journey pursuing careers as musicians. Reality hit and they pursued creative, yet conventional careers abroad in Toronto. Eventually, they made their dreams into goals and became full-time travelers. If their photos don’t inspire you, I really don’t know what will.

8. Mapping Megan

Oh hi, imagine being American and falling in love with an Aussie in Tanzania, Africa, getting married with a volcano as a backdrop, and then continue traveling the world as a pair. Megan has skydived in the Swiss Alps, gone sand-boarding in Peru, summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, and overcome the obstacles of a traveling as a couple.

The YouTube Experts Best Female Travel Bloggers on YouTube

The YouTube industry (much like the adventure industry, oh wait, most like most industries) is strongly dominated by men. These women show that adventure sees no gender!

9. Rachel Rudwall, Rachel Roams

After shining behind the scenes, Rachel finally got in front of the camera to put a lens on the world. Seen in Thrillist, the Travel Channel, and an Emmy award winner, she partners up with Andrea (below) for How 2 Travelers.

10. Andrea Fzecko, Ultra World Host

The Professional Instagrammers Best Female Travel Bloggers on Instagram

Yep, no big deal.

Well, it is a big deal. Developing a community on social media, sharpening your photography skills, and giving up a traditional job to see the world isn’t easy (I would know — it’s actually miserably difficult). However, these women triumph with adventure and are role modelers in the traveler Instagram community. You’ve probably seen me mention them before because I have groupie love for their photos. There are real, strong adventurous women behind those cameras (or like iPhone’s). Check them out here!

11. Lauren Bath, @LaurenEpBath

Recognized as Australia’s first professional Instagrammer, Lauren Bath will take you from Alberta to Dubai on your mobile device. A marketing strategist specializing in tourism, she CREATED a dreamy new career for all of us after giving up life as a chef.

12. Sylvia, @Goldie_Berlin

Imagine being so good at what you do (traveling and taking pictures) that you can develop an entire company connecting fellow influencers to brands? Germany based founder of Brandnew IO manages her business while country hopping, and somehow still manages to comment on my Instagram photos. Goodness Sylvia, I don’t know how you do it!

13. Ciler, @AudioSoup

Turkish hospitality and kindness is nothing will have you loving Ciler, a photographer, music junkie, and world traveler. An Istanbul native who reminds us that home itself has many wonders; she’ll also take you from Tanzania to Greece.

14. Jewels Zee,

There’s a transparent kindness to Jewels Zee. You just know she was terrified to pursue Instagram professionally. but with talent like hers, it was an inevitable route. She continues to travel the world being a role model for her own daughters as well as young and old women and men alike.

Women Whose Health Led Them To Travel Most Inspirational Female Travel Bloggers

There’s nothing that I admire more than people who turn their obstacles into opportunities to live life to the fullest!

15. Nastasia Yakoub, Dame Traveler

Nastasia had just finished her nursing degree when she became bedridden from back surgery.

Unable to perform the physically demanding career she had invested her time and money to pursue, Nastasia developed a female-empowering community through Instagram which has since become a motivational blog.

16. Misha, Wild Luxe

Misha, mother of two, combated cancer by unleashing her adventurous side. Her honesty and experiences make her more than a survivor: she’s an inspiration to live life everyday like you’re alive… because guess what, you are!

For the Love our Earth Best Female Travel Bloggers for Eco-Tourism

I would like to think that all professional travelers are environmentally conscious. After all, how can we show you the world if we don’t take care of it? This next female travel blogger is a hero type of her own.

17. Alison’s Adventures

Alison Teal was a “Tarzan Child” raised in the wild by award-winning National Geographic photographers. She has been deemed “The Oprah of Adventure,” yet holds degrees from USC and UC Berkley. A pioneer in sustainability, the avid surfer also advocates for Go Green. Her surfboards are “made from soy based sustainable products, recycled coffee cups, and other Styrofoam.” If that wasn’t cool enough, she actually sells clothing (yoga pants, bikinis, and shirts) made from recycled water bottles! Your green hero in pink: Alison Teal 🙂

18. Vanessa Rivers, Glitter&Mud Travel, SummerLove Swimwear

Vanessa went beyond her love of surfing and travel to create an eco-friendly swimwear line. The fabric consists of “100% regenerated polyamide fiber made from pre-consumer and post-consumer materials such as fishing nets, carpet fluff, and other waste diverted from landfills.”

Female Travel Bloggers with a Full-Time Job

For anyone who runs one of the best female travel blogs, you know that travel and work is a full time job. However, there are people who have a conventional career and live an adventurous life.

Above all, I admire women who are doers, who push the boundaries of life and live to the fullest. You don’t have to quit your job to travel. So many more cheers to the women who don’t have a blog or social media community based on their adventurous lifestyle.

One of my best friends, included:

19. Laurie Satran

What better way to get past a divorce than allowing your company to re-locate you? Moving from Philly to Amsterdam, then a small town in Sweden, Laurie spent her weekends exploring Europe and discovering her true self. An “Ikea Backpacker,” photographer and Huffington Post blogger, Laurie jet-setting proof that you can always pursue your wildest dreams.

Great post and I love seeing the diversity. Thanks so much for including me in this list of excellent women. I know and love many of them and I’ll be sure to check out those that I don’t Nice to see that you included some couples too.

This is such great inspiration! I also quit the cubicle life and have started a blog at atlasxangela.com to document my full time travels. I hope to one day have as awesome of a presence as these girls! I will be tagging #travelbreak soon for sure!

What a fantastic collection of inspirational women! I look forward to reading about their adventures! Now I know what I will be reading between training hikes for my second adventure on the Camino de Santiago this summer… Thanks for sharing!

Great list. Am familiar with less than half so I have some weekend reading here to catch up. Only comment is how about some older women? The travel life isn’t exclusively for the young! Barbara from Hole in the Donut springs to mind for one.

Hi Linda, Thanks for reading! A lot of these women are actually a little older (40s), not that that is old, just older than me 🙂 I know that there are some women in their 50s and likely over 100 still living life to its fullest — my grandma is one of them!

Thanks for reading! I’m Mexican-American, so I understand your interest in diversity. Nastasia is Chaldean which is Iraqui Christian, Ciler is Turkish and based in Istanbul, and Laurie is Asian-American. I did invite a few Europeans, Americans, and Australia because that happens to be where I know most travelers from. A lot of these women I have had the privilege of meeting in person and who have given me the time of day even as a newer blogger. It was important for me to include and celebrate the women who are supportive and inspire me, personally. I’ll check out the other blog though, thank you for sharing!

Aaaaannnd there goes my night as I dive into a black hole of discovering these wonderful lady bloggers! I knew about half on the list but thanks for introducing a few more fabulous addictions to my blogging stalk list! Awesome way to celebrate International Womens Day (or any Sunday!)

I think you are missing a Latina one! Olga Maria of http://www.dreamsinheels.com and love her Instagram. Instagram.com/dreamsinheels because it has inspired me to start traveling more. I don’t see many Latinas being represented in the travel industry. Something I wish to help change in the future.

There are so many great travelers that aren’t included in this blog post. I wrote it a year and a half ago, and these were the first women who I discovered — furthermore, the ones that encouraged me as a newbie blogger.

Hey Stephanie, great list. I appreciate your effort in putting this great list of female travelers. While I don’t get to travel as much as these adventurous women do (office wage slave here), they sure are a healthy source of inspiration.

Thanks for reading! I feel you — working in travel media makes us a slave to airports and instability. Route isn’t always terrible! Everything is a cost-benefit equation. I do hope they serve as an inspiration, given they inspire me too 🙂 Happy travels and remember that it’s quality experiences, not quantity of travel that counts!

Amazing! Listing a female travelers was great. I like this blog, seems interesting. I hope I could be the one on the list someday, I should travel more. One word I described your blog ” WOOOW” , keep on posting on your blog. God bless!

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